Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa - Championship Course

Seems to have turned a corner for the better, went downhill past few years but friendly staff in pro shop and course in great condition.

Perfection. The sun was out the tees fairways and greens were all prepared perfectly. Enough hazards to make you think and hesitate but not enough to spoil the day. Play this course. It’s £65 direct booking. We paid £25 each through GN what a bargain

I don't expect too much. I wanted a decently challenging course in good condition for a reasonable price.

Thays exactly what I got. The course was quiet so we were able to tee off early. The championship course is not newly refurbished or fancy, but it's a nice course with great views. A few signature holes were really top quality.

Greens were a blackish colour due to some treatment, but they were quick and rolled true.

Great course layout. Pro shop miserable - vey unhelpful and unfriendly. No smiles. No “welcome” no “have a great round”. Course good but unloved. Empty water features. Bins overflowing (like last time I played).

First time playing here. Got paired with 2 strangers, who were top blokes. Some nice looking holes. Some challenging holes and rough can punish wayward shots despite some holes looking quite open. Nice views in parts of the course. They had a par 3 challenge on one of the holes which was cool. A chance to win a golf holiday to Valderrama, a free round and a pro shop voucher. All staff friendly. Would definitely play again.

Course was wet but drying out. Greens were very poor. Nice layout. Everything was descent except the greens. Did not even bother putting after the first 3 holes!!

Considering this is a championship course and even allowing for the weather recently, This course is in terrible condition. Fairways aren't cut, neither are the greens and the overall quality is poor. Extremely disappointed and not worth the value of almost £50.

With all the rain we have had in the North West and with most courses closed due to the persistent rains it was great to get out and play a full course with all greens open. Granted the course was wet under foot especially round the 16th green and fairway other than that the course has stood up well to the bad weather. Greens staff were working hard on the day and well done to them - course had distinguishable fairways, greens and aprons. Greens were ok, some balls needed hitting that little bit more to get them to the hole even if it was to get through all of the "worm casts". But overall no complaints, and the rain stayed off for the whole of our round which made it even better! Will definitely return in the summer!

Only gripe would be breakfast sandwich purchased on the morning - sausage and egg x 2 with 2 coffees £16.00!

Otherwise we all need to be reminding ourselves we are playing Winter golf in the North West of England. Thanks Portal for a great walk.

After a downpour the night before. The course played ok… but arguably should’ve been closed.

The round didn’t help either as there was the slowest 4 ball in front, refusing to let us play through (a 2 ball). A few groups behind us were complaining about them too. Multiple times on the first few holes they were just leaving the tee box as we were approaching and not once waved us through. We had to skip a hole just to get ahead of them.

The course itself is really nice with some real picturesque holes. It’s definitely worth playing but i’d avoid after a couple of days of bad weather.

It's a long walk (7000 yards) but well worth it. Even at this time of year the course was in pretty good condition with some great holes and beautiful views across Cheshire towards the Pennines. Will definitely be playing again, great round.

Played a round January 13th and wow after all the bad weather we have a had this course was in top top condition for winter no complaints whatsoever, I have seen worse courses in summer never mind winter good days golfing and not to forget the great staff in the pro shop and in the halfway house on the championship course brilliant very friendly, welcoming and helpful, booked on again for the week later as it was spot on.

Forgetting the price, this course mid December was in absolutely fantastic condition, no matts, no temporary greens, everything was brilliant, had a great round and will definitely go again

The course was holding up well after all the rain we’ve had lately. Still a very enjoyable round 🏌🏼

With the rain we’ve had lately the course was holding up well. Very soggy in place but playable!

I love the champs course at the portal ,the greens are always in a good condition and the place is very picturesque.Sadly winter golf and the weeks of deluge have been harsh on the place and playing a round of 18 without losing at least 10 balls is a difficult task. The fairways have had a bashing and you can good bye to that ball in the rough.

Given the recent condition I think it’s possibly not true value for money .